The Irish Examiner recently published an article on scholarship winner, Ali Bracken Ziad and the scholarship. The article can be read here and gives a great account of Ali, his motivations as a writer, the scholarship and the upcoming tribute night.

It also details Ali's new chapbook, written with the support of the scholarship fund;​"In the opening poem in the book, titled Place And People Without, Ali writes: “I met a man that told me:/Life is treacherous/Whilst eating a spilling sandwich,/Coffee in hand, legs crossed”.

“That’s about two different occasions, speaking to a friend, and my brother,” he explains. “They were both sitting in the most comfortable, safe locations, having a coffee or eating a sandwich, and they were telling me how terrible life was. I was watching them and thinking to myself, ‘this just doesn’t look like a bad life’.”"

We are delighted to see Ali being recognised at a national level and also to see the positive impact the scholarship has had in supporting his work.

The annual Eoin Murray Tribute night will take place this August 25th, upstairs in The Long Valley bar - the site of weekly poetry night, O Bhéal.

This year the night is particularly special as it is the first scholarship showcase night. Our 2018 winner, Ali Bracken Ziad, will preform work from his newest chapbook, which he wrote with the support of the scholarship fund. Runner up Melanie Butler O' Reilly will also recite some of her original work.

We are very excited about the night. We look forward to both remembering Eoin and supporting emerging poetic talent in Ali Bracken Ziad and Melanie Butler O' Reilly.

The night will also include musical performances, a stall of poetry books & related art work and a raffle in aid of the scholarship.

It is our intention that these nights become inclusive events for all lovers of poetry and music, regardless of attendees having known Eoin personally. In that spirit we welcome all to the night.